Methods and devices for increasing aqueous drainage of the eye

ABSTRACT

Devices and methods to remove trabecular meshwork to treat glaucoma and other conditions which may not utilize cutting elements when stripping the trabecular meshwork. The trabeculorhexis parts tissue by applying non-cutting shear and tension to the tissue to disinsert the tissue from its attachments. Reducing or eliminating the need for sharp cutting implements in the eye reduces the likelihood of incisional bleeding, iris and scleral tissue maceration and further inadvertent tissue damage of the gonio structure of the eye. In another aspect, a cutting element may be used to form a circumferential slit in a wall of Schlemm&#39;s canal in conjunction with removal of trabecular meshwork or independently.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/719,727 filed Dec. 18, 2019, issuing on Feb. 2, 2021 as U.S. Pat. No.10,905,591, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/699,039, filed Nov. 28, 2019, which claims the benefit of priorityunder 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/876,799, filed Jul. 22, 2019. The disclosures are hereby incorporatedby reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to methods and devices for increasingaqueous drainage of the eye. In one specific application, for example,the devices and methods may be used to remove trabecular meshwork (withor without part of Schlemm's canal) to treat glaucoma and otherconditions.

Current trabecular excision devices typically use excisional blades orsharp needles (e.g. goniotomy) which have been around for decades. Thesedevices typically create single stab-like partial cuts of the trabecularmeshwork. More recent devices such as the Kahook dual blade (U.S. Pat.No. 9,872,799), Baervelt (U.S. Pat. No. 9,999,544) and thecauterizing/plasma cutting blades of the Trabectome (U.S. Pat. No.9,820,885), all have a sharp incisional or ablative cutting surface. Assuch, they all suffer from the major clinical disadvantage related tothe sharp cutting nature in the process of tissue engagement. The sharpblades often create interrupted, discontinuous and incongruous cuts ofthe inner canal wall which are imprecise and more akin to tissuemaceration rather than the desired tissue extraction with non-laceratingatraumatic removal. This is also often associated with significantbleeding and collateral damage of both sclera, endothelium and iristissue. Furthermore, a single cutting blade may simply open thetrabecular meshwork without removing much material. In order to removematerial, some prior art devices provide two spaced-apart cuttingelements (side by side) in an attempt to remove material between thecutting elements.

Prior art excision ab interno devices are also typically limited tostraight rigid intraocular shafts connected to a cutting element in afixed orientation relative to the shaft. A problem with these devices isthat complex motion is required to advance the cutting element. Thedistal end of the shaft must be moved longitudinally and laterally tofollow the curved shape while also changing the angle of the shaftrelative to the canal. Even when the complex motions are coordinated,another challenging aspect related to prior art devices having rigidshafts is that the orientation of the cutting element may not follow thecontour of Schlemm's canal as desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides methods and devices for increasingaqueous drainage of the eye. In some methods and devices of the presentinvention, tissue is removed from the eye to increase aqueous drainage.In one aspect, the present methods and devices may not utilize cuttingelements when stripping the trabecular meshwork. The long-term stabilityof incised tissue surfaces can be significantly reduced compared to ablunt tissue rhexis which is characterized by deeper and at times a morenatural disinsertion of the meshwork fibril roots from their lateralattachment at the origin. This aspect may be characterized as a“trabeculorhexis” in which trabecular meshwork and Schlemm's canaltissue is parted by applying non-cutting shear and tension to the tissueto tear the tissue and, at times, disinsert the tissue from itsattachments. Reducing or eliminating the need for sharp cuttingimplements in the eye reduces the likelihood of incisional bleeding,iris and scleral tissue maceration and further inadvertent tissue damageof the gonio structure of the eye.

In a further aspect of the present invention, the device includes atissue engager which may be a non-cutting blunt probing element attachedto a shaft. A guide member extends distally from the tissue engagerwhich is intended to guide the non-cutting tissue engager along theSchlemm's canal to allow for smooth continuous trabecular meshworkremoval (including disinsertion). The shaft may be made of asuperelastic material and the tissue engager may tear a strip of the TMalong a continuous segment of Schlemm's canal.

In still another aspect, the device includes a flexible shaft which maybe extended and retracted from the handpiece. The shaft is curved, orcan assume a curved memory shape/contour, to naturally change the angleof the tissue engager relative to the handpiece as the shaft is extendedlongitudinally from the handpiece. The shaft may change the angle of thetissue engager relative to the handpiece by at least 45 degrees when theshaft is extended from the handpiece. The shaft may be flexible and maybe deformed during use to provide a spring load on the tissue engager.For example, the shaft may be resilient relative to forces exerted in anadvancing direction so that the shaft develops a spring load in theadvancing direction. The shaft may also be resilient in a directionperpendicular to the advancing direction and lying in the plane ofcurvature. Thus, the shaft may develop a spring load in use which has acomponent in the advancing direction and a component in a radiallyoutward direction relative to the axis of the eye. The shaft is shapedto apply a radially outward force on the tissue relative to the axis ofthe eye when the tissue engager is moved through the trabecular meshworkwhich may help stabilize the device as it is advanced.

The device includes an elongate shaft coupled to a handpiece. Anactuator is coupled to the elongate shaft to extend and retract theshaft. A main body is coupled to the shaft. The main body comprises atissue engager which is used to disrupt and displace the trabecularnetwork. A guide member extends distally from the main body and ispositioned and advanced through Schlemm's canal during use. The guidemember is sized and configured to be positioned adjacent a wall ofSchlemm's canal to guide advancement of the tissue engager in anadvancing direction to displace the trabecular meshwork.

The guide member may be part of the shaft which extends beyond a distalend of the main body. Stated another way, the elongate shaft may extenddistally from tissue engager to form at least part of the guide memberand may define a distal end of the guide member. The guide member mayextend distally 300 to 5000 microns from the main body and has an upperside and a lower side. The lower side of the guide member slides againsta wall of Schlemm's canal. The upper surface is configured to gather thetissue as the tissue engager moves through the trabecular meshworkduring use.

The upper surface is spaced apart from the lower surface by 250 to 550microns or by 250 to 450 microns when measured at a center of the uppersurface with the center of the upper surface being the furthest part ofthe upper surface from the lower surface. The upper surface may have aradius of curvature of 100 to 350 microns or even 50 to 300 microns. Insome embodiments, the upper surface is defined at least partially by theelongate shaft.

The upper surface may have a radius of curvature less than a radius ofcurvature of the lower surface. The upper surface may have a convexsurface formed by the elongate shaft. The lower surface may be roundedwith a radius of curvature of 400 to 750 microns when viewed along theadvancing direction.

The tissue engager has a height measured perpendicular to the advancingdirection which may be at least 150 microns and may be 500 to 800microns. The tissue engager also has a width measured perpendicular tothe advancing direction which may be at least 450 microns, 450-850microns or 500-700 microns.

The tissue engager has a tissue engaging surface with a concave portionwhen viewed perpendicular to the advancing direction. The concaveportion has an upper lip and a lower lip with the upper lip forming anangle of less than 90 degrees, and may be 30-70 degrees, with theadvancing direction when viewed perpendicular to the advancingdirection. The lower lip forms an angle of 0-30 degrees with theadvancing direction when viewed perpendicular to the advancingdirection. The concave portion forms a recess (when viewed in theadvancing direction) having a depth of at least 50 microns, at least 100microns or at least 200 microns and may be 300-600 microns.

The recess has a recess height measured perpendicular to the advancingdirection and parallel to the central plane, the recess height being atleast 200 microns and may be 300-600 microns. The recess also has arecess width measured perpendicular to the advancing direction and to acentral plane which may be 300 to 700 microns or 400 to 600 microns. Insome embodiments, the recess may be partially defined by a convex shapedportion of the elongate shaft.

The shaft extends proximally from the main body at an angle greater than90 degrees, or even greater than 135 degrees, to the advancing directionand may even be at an angle of 160 to 200 degrees relative to theadvancing direction.

The tissue engager has a first sidewall and a second sidewall extendingfrom the tissue engaging surface on opposing lateral sides. The leadingedges of the first and second sidewalls may be used to displace tissueduring use with the material between the two lateral sides may bereleased from connection to the native tissue for removal. Gatheringtissue between the first and second sidewalls and displacing thegathered tissue helps to ensure that material is removed rather thanmerely forming a slit.

The tissue engager defines a central plane on which the advancingdirection lies. The first sidewall and the second sidewall may form anangle with a central plane of less than 45 degrees or even less than 30degrees. In some embodiments, the tissue engager gathers tissue anddisplaces the tissue with the tissue engager as the tissue engager isadvanced so that the tissue engager has a blunt engagement with thetissue. Blunt engagement helps to ensure that the tissue shears alongthe first sidewall and the second sidewall due to displacement of tissuegathered by the tissue engager.

The tissue engager may shear tissue without cutting the tissue so thatthe tissue engager is a blunt, non-incisional probe. In otherembodiments, the tissue engager may include a cutting element withoutdeparting from numerous aspects of the present invention. When usingblunt engagement, the tissue engager compresses and gathers tissue tobunch the tissue in a direction perpendicular to the advancing direction(and lying generally in a central plane). The tissue engager compressesand gathers tissue while the tissue is torn along the first sidewall andthe second sidewall due to displacement of the gathered tissue.

The tissue engager may have a tissue engaging surface (proximal to theguide member) which contacts and displaces the tissue without cuttingthe tissue. The tissue engaging surface may have an orientation which iswithin 15 degrees, or even within 10 degrees, of perpendicular to theadvancing direction will help gather tissue for displacement.

The tissue engager and shaft are shaped and configured to be capable ofcontinuous advancement along Schlemm's canal along an angle of 30-120degrees of the canal. The shaft may be made of any suitable materialsuch as a superelastic material like nitinol. The shaft may have acurved shape with a radius of curvature of 5.0 to 9.0 mm and the curvedshape may extending for 160 to 270 degrees.

The tissue engaging surface may have a width of at least 400 microns ormay be in a range of 500-800 microns. The tissue engaging surface mayhave a height of at least 400 microns, at least 500 microns or within arange of 550-1000 microns.

The elongate shaft may have a cross-sectional shape with a minor axisand a major axis. The major axis may be within 30 degrees, or evenwithin 15 degrees, of perpendicular to the central plane. The major axismay be at least 20% larger than the minor axis and the minor axis may beless than 250 microns while the major axis is larger than 250 microns.

The elongate shaft is advanced essentially longitudinally to advance thetissue engager through the trabecular meshwork. Furthermore, the curvedshape of the shaft causes the shaft to naturally follow the shape of thecanal thereby greatly reducing the necessary manipulations compared toprior art devices. The tissue engager is configured for introductioninto the eye ab interno. The shaft extends through a lumen in anintroducer. The introducer has a curved tip (which is curved by 15-60degrees) to facilitate introduction of the guide member into the canal.

The shaft is coupled to a handpiece having an actuator. The actuatorbeing coupled to the shaft to extend the shaft from the handpiece. Thecurved shape of the shaft naturally changes the angle of the tissueengager relative to the handpiece as the shaft is extendedlongitudinally from the handpiece. The shaft changes the angle of thetissue engager relative to the handpiece by at least 45 degrees (tofollow the curvature of the canal) when the shaft is extended from thehandpiece.

The shaft may also be flexible and is deformed during use to provide aspring load on the tissue engager. In this manner, the shaft isresilient in the advancing direction so that the shaft develops a springload in the advancing direction. Likewise, the shaft is also resilientin a direction perpendicular to the advancing direction (and lying inthe plane of curvature). The resilient nature of the shaft as it relatesto this direction causes a light spring load to develop in a radiallyoutward direction relative to the axis of the eye (or the round shape ofthe canal). Thus, the shaft may be capable of developing a spring loadwhich has a component in the advancing direction and a component in theradially outward direction. In this manner, the shaft is shaped to applya radially outward force on the tissue (specifically a wall of thecanal) when the tissue engager is moved through the trabecular meshwork.

The shaft effectively has a variable stiffness by changing a length ofthe shaft extending from the handpiece. The user may “dial in” thedesired stiffness by extending or retracting the shaft and thenmanipulate the handle to move the tissue engager with the fixedstiffness and fixed length of shaft extending from the handle. Thevariable stiffness of the shaft may change by at least at factor of 10when moving between a first working position and a second workingposition. The first and second working positions represent differentlengths of the shaft extending from the introducer tube. The shaft maybe capable of providing a stiffness in the advancing direction and/orthe radial direction (which is orthogonal to the advancing direction) ofless than 20 N/mm. The radial direction is a direction perpendicular tothe advancing direction and lying in the plane of curvature. Forcesexerted by the shaft in this direction (radially outward) tends to pressthe main body against the eye when moving the tissue engager to displacethe tissue.

The tissue engager has a tissue engaging surface with a height measuredperpendicular to an advancing direction which may be at least 300microns or may be in a range of 550-1200 microns or even 800 to 1200microns. The tissue engager and tissue engaging surface also have awidth measured perpendicular to the advancing direction and to a radialdirection in use which may be at least 300 microns or in a range of 300to 700 microns.

The tissue engager may quickly gain a steep angle to gather, compressand push the tissue in the advancing direction. Many prior art devicesuse a relatively long angled ramped which tends to stretch and lift thetissue over the ramp. Such ramps may tend to stretch the tissue betweenthe lateral sides and apply an upward force which may increase thelikelihood that the tissue separates along a single separation linebetween the lateral sides rather than tearing along two lateral sides toremove tissue as described herein. The devices of the present inventionmay have a relatively small height H when the tissue engager begins toform a relatively steep angle to gather, compress and subsequently tearthe tissue along the lateral sides. To this end, the main body extendsproximally from the guide member and has a height which increases inproximal direction. When the increasing height reaches 0.014 inch thetissue engager increases to an angle of 60 degrees relative to theadvancing direction within a distance D measured in the advancingdirection of 0.035 inch. An alternative range is when the height reaches0.012 inch that the angle reaches 80 degrees within 0.030 inch or whenthe height reaches 0.010 inch and the angle reaches 90 degrees within0.025 inch. Stated another way, the height may be no more than 0.035when the tissue engager 10 forms an angle of 80 degrees with theadvancing direction AD or no more than 0.027 when the tissue engager 10forms an angle of 90 degrees with the advancing direction.

The width of the tissue engager 10 may be somewhat moderate in the areawhere the tissue is gathered. The width may be 0.010 to 0.0030 inch whenthe tissue engager 10 increases to an angle of 80 degrees relative tothe advancing direction or may be 0.012 to 0.0025 inch when the tissueengager 10 increases to an angle of 90 degrees relative to the advancingdirection.

The device may also include a cutting element coupled to the tissueengager. The cutting element may be oriented to form a cut which isoriented radially outward relative to the central axis of the eye. Thecutting element may be within 60 degrees, or even 30 degrees, or even 15degrees, of the radially outward direction defined by the circular shapeof the eye.

The cutting element is capable of forming a continuous cut in the wallof Schlemm's canal of at least 45 or even at least 90 degrees due to thenature of the shaft as described herein. Of course, smaller cuts (lessangular extent) may be formed without departing from the scope of theinvention. The cutting element extends outwardly from the bottom surfaceof the tissue engager which slides against the canal wall in use. Assuch, the shaft also provides a light spring load in this direction tostabilize the cutting element. The circumferentially oriented cut in thewall may increase an effective size of Schlemm's canal by increasing theenclosed volume. The cutting element is also positioned so that thecircumferential slit forms a channel which provides fluid communicationat the fluid outflow side in the wall of Schlemm's canal formed by thesclera. The circumferential slit also increases the effective surfacearea available for fluid transfer and shortens the fluid path which isessentially circumferentially outward.

In use, the device is introduced into the anterior chamber of the eye inany suitable manner such as an ab interno approach. The tissue engagermay be free of cutting or ablating elements so that the tissue is partedby trabeculorhexis in some embodiments while the cutting element may beused in conjunction with trabeculorhexis or independently. The tissueengager is moved to part tissue by trabeculorhexis and may not includecutting or ablating elements. The tissue engager displaces the tissue sothat the tissue displaced by the tissue engager tears free from nativetissue due to the displacement. Furthermore, no implantable structure iscoupled to the handpiece or otherwise provided or deployed. Of course,an implantable may be incorporated without departing from the invention.

A suction lumen may be coupled to the handpiece for suctioning thetissue displaced by the tissue engager into the suction lumen. Theintroducer tube may form part of the suction lumen and the shaft may beretracted to clear some or all of the suction lumen. The device may alsoinclude a part-off mechanism to separate dislodged tissue strip fromnative tissue still attached to the eye. The part-off mechanism may be aloop with the tissue strip extending through the loop as the tissueengager is advanced.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description of the preferred embodiments, drawingsand claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a device for removing tissue from an eye having ahandpiece with an actuator to manipulate a tissue engager.

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the handpiece of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a top view of the handpiece of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is an enlarged view of the distal end of the device of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A shows an introducer tube which receives the shaft of the tissueengager.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the introducer tube of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A shows an end of the introducer with the tissue engager containedwithin the lumen of the introducer.

FIG. 3B shows another view of the end of the introducer with the curvedshaft extended to advance the tissue engager.

FIG. 3C shows an enlarged view of the distal end of the introducer.

FIG. 4 shows a tissue engager mounted to a shaft.

FIG. 5 shows another view of the tissue engager of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows another device for removing tissue from the eye.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the device of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the device of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows another device for removing tissue from the eye.

FIG. 10 shows the lower surface of the guide member of the device ofFIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the tissue engager of FIG. 9 contained withinthe introducer.

FIG. 12 shows the tissue engager of FIG. 9 with the guide memberpartially extending from the introducer.

FIG. 13 shows another device for removing tissue from an eye.

FIG. 14 is an end view of the device of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15A shows another device having a shaft and a tissue engager whichare integrally formed with a shaped wire.

FIG. 15B shows the distal end of the shaft and tissue engager of FIG.15A.

FIG. 15C shows another view of the distal end of the shaft and tissueengager of FIG. 15A.

FIG. 16 shows another device for removing tissue from an eye.

FIG. 17 shows the distal end of the device of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 shows a cross-sectional view of the distal end.

FIG. 19 shows the distal end with the shaft advanced from theintroducer.

FIG. 20 is another view of the distal end.

FIG. 21 shows another device for removing tissue from an eye whichincludes a cutting element.

FIG. 22A shows an entry opening and a terminal opening formed throughthe trabecular meshwork and FIG. 22B shows the central axis CA of theeye show in in FIG. 22A.

FIG. 23 shows the device introduced into the entry opening and advancedtowards the terminal opening.

FIG. 24 shows a device including a part-off mechanism.

FIG. 25 shows a view of the device relating to dimensions of the tissueengager.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a device 2 for disrupting the inner canal wallis shown. In one aspect, the device 2 disrupts the canal wall by blunttrabeculorhexis. The trabeculorhexis bluntly engages and tears and/orshears the tissue or may accomplish a disinsertion of the trabecularmeshwork from its attachment to the sclera and surrounding gonio anatomywithout cutting. The device 2 has a tissue engager 10 mounted to a shaft6. The tissue engager 10 is a non-cutting elongated blunt probe thatengages the trabecular meshwork as it is moved through the canal andslides along an inner wall (or along an outer wall) of the Schlemm'scanal. The device 2 includes a main body 12 which has the tissue engager10 which may be a blunt tissue disruptor that spans the trabecularmeshwork to form a continuous non-cutting trabeculorhexis. The device 2stretches and tears the trabecular meshwork fibers as it follows thecontour of the Schlemm's canal and may disinsert some of the tissue atthe origin.

Referring to FIGS. 4-5, the device 2 has a guide member 15 extendingfrom the main body 12 which serves as a probing canal engagement frontend which is blunt and non-incisional. The main body 12 has a firstsidewall 14 on one side and a second sidewall 16 on an opposing lateralside. The tissue engager 10 is introduced into an anterior chamber of aneye and the guide member 15 is positioned adjacent a wall of Schlemm'scanal (which may be an outer wall to leave Schlemm's canal intact or aninner wall when the guide member 15 is positioned within Schlemm's canalto remove part of Schlemm's canal). The tissue engager 10 is then movedby manipulating the shaft to advance the guide member in an advancingdirection AD along the wall of Schlemm's canal and remove parts of thetrabecular meshwork. The tissue engager 10 may be a blunt,non-incisional probe which is configured to engage the trabecularmeshwork tissue ab-interno and bluntly tear or disinsert the trabecularmeshwork tissue. The tissue engager 10 may strip an internal wall of theSchlemm's canal in use when the guide member is advanced within thecanal. The guide member 15 extends distally from the main body 12 by adistance of 300 to 5000 microns although the guide member 15 may beshorter or longer without departing from numerous aspects of the presentinvention.

The shaft 6 extends proximally from the main body 12 (from the tissueengager 10) and may have a curved portion 11 which forms a semi-circlewith a contour similar to the limbus architecture of the eye, (or canassume a curved memory shape/contour) which approximates a circle with adiameter of about 12 mm. The diameter of the arc span of the flexibleshaft 6 may have a memory shape slightly exceeding the diameter of theaverage eye limbus which would enable a slight radially outward forcedue to the shape of the shaft 6 as it travels alongside thecanal—allowing the firm outside scleral wall to further guide the deviceand minimizing pressure on the more fragile inner trabecular wall. Thecurved portion 11 may extend for an angle of greater than 135 degrees,and may be 160 to 200 degrees and may have a radius of curvature of 5.0to 9.0 mm. A central plane CP is defined as a plane on which theadvancing direction AD lies and which includes the shaft 6 at theconnection of the shaft 6 to the tissue engager 10. The central plane CPmay also be defined as the plane on which the advancing direction ADlies and which is positioned on a centerline of the tissue engager 10when viewed along the advancing direction AD. The central plane CP mayalso be simply defined as the plane containing the circular shape of theSchlemm's canal. The shaft 6 can be a flexible memory shaped material asneeded to substantially conform to the contour of the eye. The curvedportion 11 also defines the plane of curvature in use. The shaft 6 has acurved shape which lies in the plane of curvature in use which isaligned with the plane on which the circular Schlemm's canal lies.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-3, the device 2 includes a handpiece 13 withthe shaft 6 being coupled to the handpiece 13 and being manipulated withan actuator 25 which translates the shaft 6 forward and back to extendand retract the shaft 6 from the handpiece 13. When the shaft 6 isextended from the handpiece 13 in use the curved portion 11 of the shaft6 naturally changes the angle of the tissue engager 10 (and theorientation of the longitudinal axis of the shaft 6 at the distal end)relative to the handpiece by at least 45 degrees and may be even up to180 degrees. The curved portion of the shaft naturally changes the angleof the tissue engager 10 relative to the handpiece as the shaft 6 isextended longitudinally from the handpiece.

The handpiece 13 may also include an introducer 17 (FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B)with the elongate shaft 6 extending through a lumen 19 in the introducer17. The curved portion 11 of the shaft 6 is in a straightened and biasedcondition when contained within the lumen 19 of the introducer 17. Theintroducer 17 may have a curved tip 21 at a distal end 23 which iscurved by 15-60 degrees to facilitate insertion of the device 2 into thetrabecular meshwork and to direct the tissue engager 10 in the desireddirection along Schlemm's canal. A distal end 27 of the lumen 19 isinserted into the trabecular meshwork while the tissue engager 10 iscontained within the lumen 19. The curved tip 21 of the introducer 17 iscurved by 15-60 degrees to facilitate smooth entry into (or onto theouter wall of) Schlemm's canal. The lumen 19 may also be coupled to asource of suction so that the tissue may be removed from the eye withthe device 2. Alternatively, tissue may be removed with a separatesuction device.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the elongate shaft 6 may be flexible and resilientto provide a “soft” feel during use with the shaft 6 being elasticallydeflected and deformed in use. Specifically, the shaft 6 may beresilient relative to forces exerted against the tissue engager 10 inthe advancing direction AD. The shaft 6 may be made of a metal and maybe a superelastic material such as nitinol which provides a wide rangeof elastic response. For example, the shaft may be 0.15 mm diameternitinol wire and may be 0.10 to 0.25 mm. In this manner, the shaft 6develops a light spring load in the advancing direction AD as it isadvanced. The curved portion 11 of the shaft 6 also provides a resilientresponse in a direction perpendicular to the advancing direction AD andlying in the plane of curvature. Thus, the shaft 6 may develop a springload with a component C1 in the advancing direction and a component C2in a radially outward direction relative to the axis of the eye. In thismanner, the radially outward force causes the tissue engager 10 to slideagainst the sclera (or outer wall of Schlemm's canal) to stabilize thetissue engager 10. Stated another way, as the tissue engager 10 is movedthrough the trabecular tissue, the curved shaft 6 is shaped to apply aradially outward force on the tissue relative to the axis of the eye.The resilient nature of the shaft 6 also prevents excessive forces frombeing applied to the eye inadvertently. The soft, spring-loaded natureof the shaft may also limit or prevent accidental application ofexcessive force or displacement. The curved portion 11 of the shaft 6may extend for an angle of greater than 180 degrees and may be 240degrees or more. The curved portion 11 may have a radius of curvature ofabout 7.5 mm.

As used herein, when referring to the stiffness, resiliency or springconstant of the shaft 6 requires the shaft 6 to have (or be positionedor otherwise configured) to be operable when moving the tissue engagerto displace the tissue to be removed. The shaft 6 may have a stiffnessin the advancing direction of less than 20 N/mm, less than 10N/mm oreven less than 5N/mm, when the tissue engager is moved to displace thetissue. The shaft 6 may also have a stiffness in a directionperpendicular to the advancing direction and lying the plane ofcurvature of less than 20N/mm, less than 10N/mm or even less than 5N/mm,which presses the main body against the eye when moving the tissueengager to displace the tissue. When the guide member is positioned inSchlemm's canal the perpendicular force presses the main body (and guidemember) against the sclera. The shaft 6 may have the desired stiffnesscharacteristics while the shaft 6 is able to change the angle of thetissue engager 10 by at least 45 degrees and may be at least 90 degrees(by extension or retraction of the shaft). The angle of the shaft 6 ischanged by simply extending the shaft 6 from the introducer 17. Theshaft 6 extends from the tissue engager 10 at an angle A of greater than90 degrees, or even greater than 135 degrees, and may be 160 to 200degrees or even 160 to 240 degrees, relative to the advancing directionAD. An advantage of the shaft 6 is that complex movements of thehandpiece are reduced compared to devices having rigid shafts whichrequire the shaft angle to be changed as the device is advanced throughthe canal. Non-flexible (rigid) shafts are limited to partial pivotangulation at the site of ab-interno entry into the anterior chamber(between 10-120 degrees only). Instead, the flexible shaft of thepresent invention may be made of elastic or superelastic alloys orpolymers which provide sufficient flexibility to access the entireinternal circumference of the anterior chamber and the gonio anatomy.Such movements with a rigid shaft can be challenging given the limiteddegrees of freedom and movement for devices introduced into the eye. Thepresent invention reduces and can even eliminate the need to change theangle of the shaft/handpiece when disrupting the canal. Although thepresent invention describes trabeculorhexis rather than cutting,numerous aspects of the present invention may be practiced with acutting element rather than one that rips/strips/tears the tissue. Forexample, all aspects of the shaft 6 may be practiced with the tissueengager 6 cutting tissue.

The shaft 6 also has a variable stiffness by simply changing a length ofthe shaft 6 extending from the handpiece 13 which may provide obviousadvantages when encountering differing tissue conditions and angles ofapproach. The variable stiffness of the shaft 6 may change by at leastat factor of 10 when moving between a first working position and asecond working position so that the first position with the smalleststiffness is at least 10 times smaller than the second position with thelarger stiffness with both positions being operable to displace thetissue. The variable stiffness may be provided by simply retracting andextending the shaft 6 to change a length of the shaft 6 extending fromthe handpiece (specifically the introducer) and the first and secondworking positions may change the orientation of the distal end of theshaft by at least 45 degrees relative to the handpiece 13. The shaft 6cross-section may be constant or may increase proximally to maintain amore consistent stiffness. For example, the stiffness may vary less than30% for a curved portion which is extended and retracted to change theangle of the shaft 6 by at least 45 degrees.

The guide member 15 has an upper surface 18 and a lower surface 20 withthe lower surface 20 positioned adjacent the wall of Schlemm's canal sothat the guide member 15 slides against the sclera or outer wall ofSchlemm's canal. The tissue engager 10 has a height H measuredperpendicular to the advancing direction AD (and transverse to the wallof Schlemm's canal in an essentially radially inward direction relativeto the circular shape of the canal) from the upper surface 18 to thelower surface 20 which is at least 150 microns and may be 500 to 1200microns or even 500 to 800 microns although any suitable height may beused depending on the desired amount of trabecular meshwork to bestripped. The tissue engager 10 has a width W measured perpendicular tothe advancing direction (and to the height H) of at least 300 microns orat least 400 microns and may be 300 to 700 microns, or 450-850 micronsor even 500-700 microns.

The height H and width W of the tissue engager are intended to captureand gather the trabecular meshwork. In this manner, the gathered tissueis less likely to tear or rip between the first and second sidewalls 14,16 compared to the tissue along the first and second sidewalls 14, 16.The lower surface 20 slides against a wall of Schlemm's canal or thesclera. The tissue may be gathered by the upper surface 18 with theupper surface 18 spaced apart from the lower surface 20 by 250 to 700microns or 400 to 700 microns with alternative ranges for being 250 to550 microns and may even be 250 to 450 microns at a center of the uppersurface 18 with the center of the upper surface 18 being the furthestpart of the upper surface 18 from the lower surface 20.

The tissue engager 10 has a tissue engaging surface 31 which may have aconcave portion 33 when viewed perpendicular to the advancing direction.The concave portion 33 has an upper lip 35 and a lower lip 37 which mayhelp gather and compress tissue together as the device 2 is advanced.The upper lip 35 may form an angle A2 of less than 90 degrees (and maybe 30-70 degrees) with the advancing direction AD when viewedperpendicular to the advancing direction while the lower lip 37 may forman angle A3 of 0-30 degrees with the advancing direction AD when viewedperpendicular to the advancing direction AD. The concave portion 33forms a recess 39 when viewed perpendicular to the advancing directionAD. The recess 39 has a depth of at least 50 microns measuredperpendicular to a line extending between the upper lip 35 and the lowerlip 37 of the recess 39. Stated another way, the recess 39 has a recessdepth measured in the advancing direction of at least 100 microns, atleast 200 microns or even 300-600 microns. The recess 39 has a recessheight measured perpendicular to the advancing direction and parallel tothe central plane of at least 200 microns and may be 300-600 microns.The recess 39 may also have a recess width measured perpendicular to theadvancing direction AD and to the central plane CP of 300 to 700 micronsand may be 400 to 600 microns.

The first sidewall 14 and the second sidewall 16 extend from the tissueengaging surface 31 on opposing lateral sides of the tissue engagingsurface 31. The first sidewall 14 and the second sidewall 16 may have aheight of at least 150 microns and may be 500 to 800 microns (measuredperpendicular to the advancing direction AD) and a length of 200-500microns (measured along the advancing direction AD). The first sidewall14 and the second sidewall 16 may also form an angle with the centralplane CP of less than 45 degrees and may even be less than 20 degrees.The first sidewall and the second sidewall extend from the tissueengaging surface 31 on opposing lateral sides of the tissue engagingsurface 31.

The tissue engager 10 may gather tissue and displaces the tissue with ablunt non-lacerating engagement. As the tissue engager 10 moves thegathered tissue forward, tissue along the first and second sidewalls 14,16 is sheared and/or torn without cutting or the need for a cuttingelement. Stated another way, the tissue engager 10 compresses andgathers tissue to bunch the tissue between the upper lip 35 and thelower lip 37 in a direction perpendicular to the advancing direction ADand lying in the central plane CP. The tissue engager 10 compresses andgathers tissue while the tissue is torn and sheared along the first andsecond sidewalls 14, 16 during displacement of the gathered tissue. Thetissue engager 10 may be moved through the trabecular meshworkcontinuously along any angular extent such as 10-360 degrees or 30 to120 degrees of the Schlemm's canal. The tissue engager 10 shears tissuealong the first sidewall 14 and the second sidewall 16 due todisplacement of tissue gathered by the tissue engager 10. Stated anotherway, the tissue engager 10 compresses and gathers tissue to bunch thetissue in a direction perpendicular to the advancing direction and lyingin the central plane. Stated still another way, the tissue engager 10compresses and gathers tissue while the tissue is torn along the firstsidewall 14 and the second sidewall 16 due to displacement of tissuegathered by the tissue engager 10. The tissue engager 10 may also lackany piercing elements and may tear the tissue without cutting orablating although numerous aspects may be practiced with the tissueengager 10 cutting tissue as mentioned above. The tissue engager 10 is ablunt, non-incisional probe and may displace the trabecular meshworktissue to bluntly disinsert the trabecular meshwork tissue.

The tissue engager 10 may strip an internal wall of the Schlemm's canalwhen the guide member 15 is advanced through the canal or may leave thecanal intact with the guide member 15 sliding on the outer wall of thecanal. The tissue engager 10 has the tissue engaging surface 31 proximalto the guide member 15. The tissue engaging surface 31 may contact anddisplace tissue without cutting the tissue. The tissue engaging surface31 has an orientation which is within 15 degrees, and may be within 10degrees, of perpendicular to the advancing direction AD. The tissueengaging surface 31 may have a width W of at least 400 microns and maybe 500-800 microns. The tissue engaging surface may have a height H ofat least 300 microns, at least 400 microns, at least 500 microns or maybe 550-1200 microns or even 800 to 1200 microns. The width W of thetissue engaging surface helps to gather an amount of tissue ahead of thetissue engaging surface. In this manner, the tissue isripped/torn/sheared from the native tissue due to displacement of thetissue gathered ahead of the tissue engaging surface. Displacing tissuein this manner encourages the tissue to be torn on both lateral sidesthereby releasing a strip of the trabecular meshwork. Thus, statedanother way, the tissue engaging surface displaces an amount of tissuehaving a width of at least 300 microns and may be at least 400 microns.

Referring to FIG. 6-8, another device 2A for removing tissue from theeye is shown wherein the same or similar reference numbers refer to thesame or similar structure. The device 2A has a tissue engager 10Amounted to a shaft 6A. The shaft 6A may have any of the properties ofthe shaft 6 described herein and the shaft 6A is mounted to thehandpiece 13 (FIG. 1A) in the same manner and use as the shaft 6 and allsuch uses, features and properties are incorporated here. The device 2Aalso has a non-cutting non-ablative tissue engager 10A that engages anddisplaces the trabecular meshwork. The tissue engager 10A (which isformed by a main body 12A) gathers tissue (trabecular meshwork) so thatthe tissue stretches and tears along a first sidewall 14A and a secondsidewall 16A as it follows the contour of the Schlemm's canal. The shaft6A may also be made of any suitable material and may be a metal,including a superelastic material such as nitinol.

The device 2A has a guide member 15A to guide the device 2A alongSchlemm's canal. The main body 12A has the first sidewall 14A and thesecond sidewall 16A on opposing lateral sides of the main body 12A. Theguide member 15A may extend distally from the main body 12A by adistance of 30-500 microns although the guide member 16A may be shorteror longer without departing from numerous aspects of the presentinvention. The shaft 6A extends proximally from the tissue engager 10A.A central plane CP2 is defined as a plane on which the advancingdirection AD lies and which includes the shaft 6A at the connection ofthe shaft 6A to the main body 12A (and to the tissue engager 10A). Thecentral plane CP2 may also be defined as the plane on which theadvancing direction AD lies and the curved portion 11 of the shaft 6A.The central plane CP2 also defines the plane on which Schlemm's canallies.

The guide member 15A has an upper surface 18A and a lower surface 20Awith the lower surface 20A sliding against a wall of Schlemm's canal inuse. The tissue engager 10A has a height H measured perpendicular to theadvancing direction AD which is less than 600 microns and may be 50-500microns. The tissue engager 10A also has a width W (measuredperpendicular to the advancing direction) which may be 50 to 500microns. The tissue engager 10A may also have a tissue engaging surfacewith a concave portion 22A when viewed perpendicular to the advancingdirection. The concave portion 22A has an upper lip 24A and a lower lip26A which helps to gather and compress tissue as the device 2A isadvanced. The upper lip 24A may form an angle A3 of less than 90degrees, alternatively an angle of 30-70 degrees, with the advancingdirection AD when viewed perpendicular to the advancing direction AD.The concave portion 22A may form a recess 28A (when viewed perpendicularto the advancing direction) with the recess 28A having a depth of atleast 50 microns measured perpendicular to a line extending between theupper lip and lower lip.

The first sidewall 14A and the second sidewall 16A extend from thetissue engaging surface on opposing lateral sides of the tissue engagingsurface. The first sidewall 14A and the second sidewall 16A may have aheight of 500 to 800 microns (measured perpendicular to the advancingdirection AD) and a length of 180 to 220 microns (measured along theadvancing direction AD).

Referring to FIGS. 9-12, another device 2B for removing tissue from theeye is shown wherein the same or similar reference numbers refer to thesame or similar structure. The device 2B has a tissue engager 10Bmounted to an elongate shaft 6B to form the non-cutting blunt tissueengager 10B. The tissue engager 10B (which is formed by a main body 12B)stretches and tears the trabecular meshwork fibers as described herein.The shaft 6B may also be made of a metal such as a superelastic material(nitinol).

The device 2B has a guide member 15B which guides the device 2B alongSchlemm's canal. The guide member 15B may be a piece of formed sheetmetal. The main body 12B has a first sidewall 14B and a second sidewall16B on opposing lateral sides of the main body 12B. The guide member 15Bmay extend distally from the main body 12B by a distance of 30-500microns. A central plane CP3 is defined as a plane on which theadvancing direction AD lies and which includes the shaft 6B at aconnection of the shaft 6B to the tissue engager 10B. The central planeCP3 may also be defined as the plane on which the advancing direction ADlies and which is positioned on a centerline of the tissue engager 10Bwhen viewed along the advancing direction AD. The shaft 6B may be aflexible memory shaped material as needed to follow the contour of theeye.

The guide member 15B has an upper surface 18B and a lower surface 20Bwith the lower surface 20B sliding against a wall of Schlemm's canalduring use. The lower surface 20B may be laser etched, chemical etchedor ground to provide a desired texture. The tissue engager 10B has aheight H measured perpendicular to the advancing direction AD and awidth W3 (measured perpendicular to the advancing direction) which mayhave the dimension ranges for any of the other devices described hereinand all such dimensions are incorporated here.

The tissue engager 10B may also have a tissue engaging surface with aconcave portion 22B when viewed perpendicular to the advancing directionAD. The concave portion 22B has an upper lip 24B and a lower lip 26Bwhich helps to gather and compress tissue as the device 2B is advanced.The gathered tissue is displaced and the gathered/displaced tissuetears/shears/rips the tissue from the native tissue. The upper lip 24Bmay form an angle of less than 90 degrees, alternatively an angle of30-70 degrees, with the advancing direction AD when viewed perpendicularto the advancing direction AD3. The concave portion 22B may form arecess 28B (when viewed perpendicular to the advancing direction) withthe recess 28B having a depth of at least 50 microns measuredperpendicular to a line extending between the upper lip 24B and thelower lip 26B. The recess 28B may be partially defined by the elongateshaft 6B but may, of course, also be formed independent of the shaft 6B.

The first sidewall 14B and the second sidewall 16B extend from thetissue engaging surface on opposing lateral sides of the tissue engagingsurface. The first sidewall 14B and the second sidewall 16B may have aheight, width, orientation and size ranges of any of the otherembodiments described herein which are incorporated here.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, still another device 2C for removingtissue from the eye is shown wherein the same or similar referencenumbers refer to the same or similar structure. The device 2C has atissue engager 10C mounted to an elongate shaft 6C to form a non-cuttingelongated blunt probe.

The tissue engager 10C (which is formed by a main body 12C) stretchesand tears the trabecular meshwork fibers as described herein. The shaft6C may be a nitinol wire or any other suitable material. The tissueengager 10C may be a plastic extrusion bonded which is bonded or formedwith the shaft 6C. The main body 12C has a first sidewall 14C and asecond sidewall 16C on opposing lateral sides of the main body 12C wherethe trabecular meshwork is torn. As such, the gathered tissue displacedby the tissue engager 10C has been substantially freed from the nativetissue. The tissue engager 10C has a height measured perpendicular tothe advancing direction which may be at least 150 microns (and may be500 to 800 microns). The tissue engager 10C has a width W measuredperpendicular to the advancing direction of at least 400 microns and maybe 450-850 microns or even 500-700 microns.

The elongate shaft 6C extends beyond a distal end of a main body 12C toform a guide member 15C. Stated another way, the elongate shaft 6Cextends distally from tissue engager 10C to form at least part of theguide member 15C so that the elongate shaft 6C defines a distal end ofthe guide member 15C. The guide member 15C is formed by the shaft 6C andmay extend distally from the main body 12C by a distance of 30-500microns. The guide member 15C has an upper surface 18C and a lowersurface 20C with the lower surface 20C sliding against a wall ofSchlemm's canal during use. The upper surface 18C of the guide member15C may have a convex surface with a radius of curvature of 100 to 350microns, or even 200 to 300 microns, and may be defined at leastpartially (or entirely) by the elongate shaft 6C. The upper surface 18Cmay have a radius of curvature less than a radius of curvature of thelower surface 20C. The lower surface 20C may be rounded with a radius ofcurvature 400 to 750 microns when viewed along the advancing direction.

The elongate shaft 6C may also have a non-circular cross-sectional shapewith a minor axis 51 and a major axis 53. The major axis being within 30degrees, and may be within 15 degrees, of perpendicular to the centralplane. The major axis may be at least 20% larger than the minor axis.The minor axis may be less than 250 microns while the major axis may belarger than 250 microns. The shaft 6C may be interchanged with any ofthe other shafts described herein and vice versa and all such features,such as the non-circular cross-section of shaft 6C, may be used with anyof the other shafts described herein including all aspects of shaft 6such as the spring loads developed.

The first sidewall 14C and the second sidewall 16C extend from thetissue engaging surface on opposing lateral sides of the tissue engagingsurface. The first sidewall 14C and the second sidewall 16B may have aheight of 500 to 800 microns (measured perpendicular to the advancingdirection AD) and a length of less than 100 microns (measured along theadvancing direction AD). The first sidewall 14C and the second sidewall16C may also form an angle with the central plane CP4 of less than 45degrees and may even be less than 20 degrees. The central plane CP4 isdefined as a plane on which the advancing direction AD lies and whichincludes the shaft 6C at a connection of the shaft 6C to the tissueengager 10C. The central plane CP4 may also be defined as the plane onwhich the advancing direction AD lies and which is positioned on acenterline of the tissue engager 10C when viewed along the advancingdirection AD. Yet another definition is the plane on which the tissueengager 10C travels which, of course, essentially matches the shape ofSchlemm's canal (circular or segments thereof).

Referring to FIGS. 15A-15C, another device 2D for removing tissue fromthe eye is shown wherein the same or similar reference numbers refer tothe same or similar structure. The device 2D has a tissue engager 10Dmounted to an elongate shaft 6D to form a non-cutting elongated bluntprobe or tissue engager 10D. The tissue engager 10D is formed by a mainbody 12D attached to the shaft 6D.

The shaft may be integrally formed with the guide member 15D and thetissue engager 10D. When the guide is integrally formed with the shaft6D, the distal end of the guide member 15D is simply a distal end of theelongate shaft 6D. The wire 15D which forms the shaft 6D may have a bentportion 40 which forms the tissue engager 10D. The shaft 6D has a curvedportion 11D with the bent portion 40 extending inwardly relative to thecurved portion 11D by a distance 55 of 200 to 800 microns. The bentportion 40 may form an angle with the elongate shaft 6D of 10 to 150degrees.

The elongate shaft is integrally formed with the tissue engager 10D andthe guide member 15D. The elongate shaft 6D (and optionally the tissueengager 10D and the guide member 15D) may be the wire 15D having aneffective radius of 40 to 400 microns, or 50-300 microns, althoughdifferent sizes and shapes may be used without departing from theinvention. The shaft 6D may be made of a metal such as a superelasticmaterial (nitinol). The effective radius is the equivalent radius for acircle having the same cross-sectional area for a non-circularcross-section (such as elliptical or rectangular).

The main body 12D has a first sidewall 14D and a second sidewall 16D onopposing lateral sides of the main body 12D. The guide member 15D mayextend distally from the main body 12D by a distance of 30-500 microns.The shaft 6D extends proximally from the tissue engaging element 10D andmay form an angle with the advancing direction AD of greater than 135degrees and may be 160 to 200 degrees. A central plane CP4 is defined asa plane on which the advancing direction AD lies and which includes theshaft 6D at a connection of the shaft 6D to the tissue engager 10D. Thecentral plane CP4 may also be defined as the plane on which theadvancing direction AD lies and which is positioned on a centerline ofthe tissue engager 10D when viewed along the advancing direction AD.

The guide member 15D has an upper surface and a lower surface with thelower surface sliding against a wall of Schlemm's canal during use. Thetissue engager 10D has a height H measured perpendicular to theadvancing direction AD and a width W which may be defined by any of theranges described herein and such ranges are expressly incorporated here.The first sidewall 14D and the second sidewall 16D may have a height anda length within any of the ranges described herein and all such rangesand aspects are incorporated here.

Referring to FIGS. 16-20, another device 2E for increasing aqueousdrainage in an eye is shown wherein the same or similar referencenumbers refer to the same or similar structure. The device 2E has atissue engager 10E mounted to a shaft 6E. The shaft 6E may have any ofthe properties of the shafts described herein and the shaft 6E ismounted to the handpiece 13 (see FIG. 1A) in the same manner and use asthe shaft 6 and all such uses, features and properties are incorporatedhere. The tissue engager 10E engages and displaces the trabecularmeshwork and is part of a main body 12E. The tissue gathers so that thetissue stretches and tears along a first sidewall 14E and a secondsidewall 16E as described herein. The shaft 6E may be made of anysuitable material and may be a metal including a superelastic materialsuch as nitinol. The tissue engager 10E is coupled to an introducer 17Ewhich may be a 0.022″ stainless steel tube having a shape end to matchthe tissue engager 10E. The introducer 17E includes a 0.014″ OD sleeve71E.

The device 2E has a guide member 15E to guide the device 2E alongSchlemm's canal. The guide member 15E may be formed by the shaft 6E asshown or could be part of the main body 12E. The main body 12E has thefirst sidewall 14E and the second sidewall 16E on opposing lateral sidesof the main body 12E. The guide member 15E may extend distally from themain body 12E by a distance of 30-500 microns although the guide member15E may be shorter or longer without departing from numerous aspects ofthe present invention. The shaft 6E extends proximally from the tissueengager 10E. A central plane CP2 is defined as a plane on which theadvancing direction AD lies and which includes the shaft 6E at theconnection of the shaft 6E to the main body 12E (and to the tissueengager 10E). The central plane CP2 may also be defined as the plane onwhich the advancing direction AD lies and the curved portion 11 of theshaft 6E. The central plane CP2 also defines the plane on whichSchlemm's canal lies.

The guide member 15E has an upper surface 18E and a lower surface 20Ewith the lower surface 20E sliding against a wall of Schlemm's canal inuse. The tissue engager 10E is the portion of the main body 12E whichdisplaces the tissue and includes a frustoconical surface 49E, whichtapers down to the guide member 15E (which may be an extension of theshaft 6E) and tapers up to a substantially tubular portion 51E of themain body 12E which also constitutes part of the tissue engager 10E. Thetissue engager 10E has a height H2 measured perpendicular to theadvancing direction AD which may be at least 600 microns and may beabout 1000 microns. The height H2 may be at least 300 microns, at least400 microns, at least 500 microns or may be 550-1200 microns or even 800to 1200 microns. The tissue engager 10E also has a width W2 (measuredperpendicular to the advancing direction) which may be about 560microns. The width W2 is measured perpendicular to the advancingdirection and may be at least 300 microns, at least 400 microns, or inthe range of 300 to 700 microns, 450-850 microns or even 500-700microns.

The various surfaces and dimensions described herein for all embodimentsshall be defined by the view associated with particular surface ororientation. When considering a rectangular-shaped cross-section each offour defined sides may be well defined. When a circular cross-sectionalshape is used, such as with device 6E, it is understood that thedefinition of upper surface and lower surface would subdivide thecircular cross-section into two half circles. Similarly, the lateralwalls would subdivide into two half circles which means that each partof the surface may define two surfaces since the surfaces are exposed intwo orientations and contribute to both width and height.

The tissue engager 10E may also have a tissue engaging surface which mayhave a concave portion 22E when viewed perpendicular to the advancingdirection AD. The tissue engaging surface also includes thefrustoconical surface 49E and tubular portion 51E. The concave portion22E has an upper lip 24E and a lower lip 26E (formed by an upper part ofthe frustoconical portion 49) which helps to gather the tissue as thedevice 2E is advanced. The upper lip 24E may form an angle A3 of lessthan 90 degrees, alternatively an angle of 30-70 degrees, with theadvancing direction AD when viewed perpendicular to the advancingdirection AD. The concave portion 22E also constitutes a recess 28E asused herein (when viewed perpendicular to the advancing direction) withthe recess 28E having a depth of at least 50 microns measuredperpendicular to a line extending between the upper lip and lower lip.

The first sidewall 14E and the second sidewall 16E extend on opposinglateral sides of the tissue engaging surface. The first sidewall 14E andthe second sidewall 16E may have a height of 500 to 800 microns(measured perpendicular to the advancing direction AD) and a length of180 to 220 microns (measured along the advancing direction AD) but anyof the ranges described herein may be used and are incorporated here.

Referring to FIG. 21, still another device 2F is shown for improvingaqueous flow in an eye wherein the same or similar reference numbersrefer to the same or similar structure and all characteristics, uses andproperties of similar structure are incorporated here. The device 2Fincludes a main body 12F having a tissue engager 10F which issubstantially similar to those described above except that it alsoincludes a cutting element 61. The cutting element 61 cuts acircumferential slit in the canal wall as the device is advanced alongthe canal wall.

The device 2F includes a shaft 6F which extends through an introducer17F and mounted to a handpiece 13 (see FIG. 1A) and operated in themanner described herein. The tissue engager 10F (formed by a main body12F) may gather tissue so that the tissue stretches and tears along afirst sidewall 14F and a second sidewall 16F as described herein. Thedevice 2F may also operate without trabeculorhexis without departingfrom aspects of the present invention which may be practiced with thecutting element 61. The shaft 6F may be made of any suitable materialand may be a metal, including a superelastic material such as nitinol.

The device 2F has a guide member 15F to guide the device 2F alongSchlemm's canal. The guide member 15F may be formed by the shaft 6F asshown or could be part of the main body 12F. The main body 12F has thefirst sidewall 14F and the second sidewall 16F on opposing lateral sidesof the main body 12F. The guide member 15F has an upper surface and alower surface with the lower surface sliding against a wall of Schlemm'scanal in use. The main body 12F has a torus-shaped a leading edgeleading to a tubular portion. The torus-shaped leading edge tapers downto the guide member 15F and tapers up to the tubular portion.

Referring to FIGS. 21, 22A and 22B, the cutting element 61 extends froma lower surface 20F of the tissue engager 10F in a radially outwarddirection as defined by the circular shape of the eye (and the centralaxis CA of the eye). The cutting element 61 is coupled to the tissueengager along the lower surface 20F which is pressed against the wall ofthe canal. The cutting element 61 may be oriented to form a cut which isessentially radially outward RO direction relative to the central axisof the eye. The cutting element 61 may be oriented to form a cut with anangle AC which is within 60 degrees, 30 degrees, or even within 15degrees, of the radially outward RO direction defined by the circularshape and central axis CA of the eye.

The cutting element 61 is capable of forming a continuous cut in thewall of Schlemm's canal to increase an effective size of Schlemm'scanal. The effective size is increased since the slit increases thepotential enclosed volume of the canal. Any length of slit may be formedand the device is capable of forming a continuous cut through at least45 degrees, and may be at least 90 degrees, of Schlemm's canal in use.The cutting element 61 may extend from the surface which slides againstthe canal wall which may help stabilize the cutting element 61. Theshaft 6F is also capable of developing the spring response describedherein which may also provide advantages when advancing the cuttingelement 61 through the canal wall. The cutting element 61 may beincorporated into any of the other devices described herein and readilypositioned in the same relative position and with the same features anduses. All such combinations are expressly provided for herein and alluses and characteristics of the cutting element 61 are equallyapplicable to a combination with any of the other devices describedherein.

The cutting element 61 also forms an elongate (in the circumferentialdirection) slit which increases the available surface area available forfluid transfer. The slit also effectively shortens the fluid path sincethe fluid path is generally radially outward and the slit is formedgenerally in a radially outward direction. The methods of the presentinvention may be also practiced without removing the trabecular meshworkin a canaloplasty procedure. The tissue engager and cutting elementwould be reduced in size and delivered through a cannula to form one ormore circumferential slits in the radially outer (sclera) wall. Theelongate slit may provide improvement in fluid flow as a primarycanaloplasty therapy for the reasons discussed above.

The tissue engager 10F may also have similar structures to the otherdevices described herein and these similar structures are now describedand all features of similar structures of any other device describedherein are incorporated here. A tissue engaging surface may have aconcave portion 22F when viewed perpendicular to the advancing directionAD. The concave portion 22F has an upper lip 24F and a lower lip 26Fwhich helps to gather and compress tissue as the device 2F is advanced.The upper lip 24F may form an angle A3 of less than 90 degrees,alternatively an angle of 30-70 degrees, with the advancing direction ADwhen viewed perpendicular to the advancing direction AD. The concaveportion 22F also constitutes a recess 28F as used herein when viewedperpendicular to the advancing direction. The first sidewall 14F and thesecond sidewall 16F extend from the tissue engaging surface on opposinglateral sides of the tissue engaging surface 20F. The first sidewall 14Fand the second sidewall 16F may have a height, width and a lengthconsistent with the ranges described herein which are incorporated here.

Referring to FIG. 25, is a schematic view of any of the devicesdescribed herein for the purpose of defining further dimensionalcharacteristics. The tissue engager 10 may quickly gain a steep angle ANto gather, compress and push the tissue in the advancing direction AD.The tissue engager 10 may be tightly curved in this area so that thetissue engager 10 quickly gains a steep angle AN at point P in arelatively short distance D. Of course, a beveled or rounded atraumatictransition T from the guide member 15 may be desirable, however, manyprior art devices use a relatively long ramped surface which tends tostretch the tissue over the ramp. Such ramps may tend to stretch thetissue between the lateral sides and apply an upward force which mayincrease the likelihood that the tissue separates along a singleseparation line between the lateral sides rather than tearing along twolateral sides to remove tissue as described herein.

The devices of the present invention may have a relatively small heightH when the tissue engager 10 begins to form a relatively steep angle togather, compress and subsequently tear the tissue along the lateralsides. To this end, the main body 12 extends proximally from the guidemember 15 and has a height H which increases in proximal direction. Whenthe increasing height reaches 0.014 inch the tissue engager 10 increasesto an angle AN of 60 degrees relative to the advancing direction withina distance D measured in the advancing direction of 0.035 inch. Analternative range is when the height H reaches 0.012 inch that the angleAN reaches 80 degrees within 0.030 inch or when the height H reaches0.010 inch and the angle AN reaches 90 degrees within 0.025 inch. Statedanother way, the height H2 may be no more than 0.035 when the tissueengager 10 forms an angle of 80 degrees with the advancing direction ADor no more than 0.027 when the tissue engager 10 forms an angle of 90degrees with the advancing direction.

The width W2 (see FIG. 20) of the tissue engager 10 may be somewhatmoderate in the area where the tissue is gathered. The tissue engager 10is curved to gather tissue while permitting enough lateral room for thetissue to “drape” around the tissue engager 10 and tear along the twosides. The width W2 may be 0.010 to 0.0030 inch when the tissue engager10 increases to an angle AN of 80 degrees relative to the advancingdirection or may be 0.012 to 0.0025 inch when the tissue engager 10increases to an angle AN of 90 degrees relative to the advancingdirection.

Use of the devices 2 and 2A-2F is now described with reference to thedevice 2D and FIG. 22A and FIG. 23. The elongate shaft 6D is advancedlongitudinally from the introducer 17 to advance the tissue engager 10Dthrough the trabecular tissue in the following manner. The device 6D isintroduced into the eye ab interno (see FIG. 16). An entry opening 63and a first terminal opening 65 are formed through the trabecularmeshwork to Schlemm's canal using a conventional bladed instrument 67(see FIG. 22A). The device 2D is then introduced into the entry opening63 with the introducer extending into the entry opening 63 and thedevice 2D is then advanced toward the first terminal opening 65 byextending the shaft 6 from the handpiece 13 (FIG. 1). As the tissueengager 10D is advanced, the flexible, curved shaft changes theorientation of tissue engager to conform to Schlemm's canal. In thismanner, the user may not be required to substantially change theorientation or position of the handpiece as the tissue engager isadvanced.

When the tissue engager reaches the first terminal opening 65, a firststrip of tissue has been released and removed to expose a portion of awall of Schlemm's canal. The device 6D may be used to strip anotherportion of the trabecular meshwork to expose more of Schlemm's canal byforming a second terminal opening and advancing the tissue engager tothe second terminal opening. The entry opening is created by removing orincising the trabecular meshwork to the outer wall of Schlemm's canal orthrough Schlemm's canal to expose the sclera. The strip of trabecularmeshwork released by the present devices may also be parted off with aseparate device or with the devices themselves (by cutting or tearing)as now described.

Referring to FIG. 24, the device 2 may include a part-off mechanism 50to separate the tissue strip from the native tissue. The part-offmechanism 50 may be a loop 52 of material through which the tissue stripis initially guided. The loop is kept in the open position of FIG. 24until it is desired to part-off the tissue at which time the loop iscinched (closed) to cut the tissue strip. When the part-off mechanism isprovided it may be unnecessary to form the terminal opening as part ofthe procedure. The part-off mechanism may also be carried out with asharp cutting implement or with a separate device without departing fromnumerous aspects of the present invention. The part-off mechanism has anactuator coupled to the handpiece with the part-off mechanism separatingthe tissue strip from native tissue upon actuation. The loop of materialmay be a superelastic material such as nitinol. Alternatively, a sutureor a polymeric filament or any other suitable filament or wire may beused. The tissue strip extends through the loop as the tissue engager isadvanced. The loop is closed to cut the tissue strip upon actuation ofthe actuator. The device may also include a suction lumen coupled to thehandpiece for removing the tissue displaced and released by the device.The step of parting off the tissue strip may be unnecessary, of course,when forming the terminal opening.

As used herein, the term “displace tissue” includes both bluntengagement to move the tissue but also cutting the tissue to move thetissue in the path of the tissue engager. The terms “gather” tissue and“gathering” tissue shall mean that tissue collects and bunches up infront of the tissue engager. The gathered tissue may be somewhatcompressed as it collects ahead of the device. Displacement of thisgathered tissue advantageously rips/tears/shears the tissue along bothlateral sides so that a strip of material is being freed from the nativetissue. Use of a cutting element may result in a slit being formedwithout meaningful removal of material. Similarly, use of a rounded tubeor element may result in simply tearing the trabecular meshwork openalong a seam without meaningful removing material. The ability of thedevices of the present invention to gather tissue does not require thedevice to gather all of the tissue being removed. The gathered tissuemay slide to one side or the other or “over” the tissue engager so thatthe tissue engager gathering a different part of the trabecular meshworkand tearing/ripping tissue free by displacing the newly gathereddifferent part of the trabecular meshwork. The present invention gatherstissue corresponding to the width of the tissue engaging element while arounded tube (or a cutting element) are not capable of gathering tissuein this manner.

The advancing direction as used herein is defined as a local vectorwhich is essentially a tangent to the circular shape of the Schlemm'scanal. As such, the advancing direction essentially follows thecurvature of the Schlemm's canal rather than defining a singledirection. All compatible features of any embodiment shall beinterchangeable with any other embodiment and all such combinations areexpressly incorporated herein. For example, the non-circularcross-sectional shape for the elongate shaft may be used with (andclaimed with) any of the other embodiments described herein and thedimensions and characteristics of the any recess may be attributed toany other recess. As another example, the shape, stiffness andproperties of the shaft (such as shaft 6) described in any embodimentmay be used with any of the devices described herein and all such usesare incorporated herein whether expressly described or not. Finally, thedimensions and distances shall be deemed average values for a particularquantity as necessary.

In addition, the non-cutting probe and or the tissuemicro-disruptor/trabeculorhexis element may both have tissue modulatingsurface elements on their outer surface which can engage and/or modulatethe surface of the external canal wall. For example, such elements mayinclude micro-abrasive surface for canal wall cleaning, debridementand/or thinning. Further embodiments of a combinedtrabeculorhexis-canaloplasty device whereby in addition to thetrabeculorhexis configuration, the device has features designed tochange, modulate, abrade, shave, thin, micro-perforate theexternal/contralateral-to-the-TM canal wall. This can be achieved by amodified surface architecture of the guide-probe and/or the tissuedisruptor and/or the flexible shaft with abrasive non-smooth surfaceincluding but not limited to a grating configuration, notching and othersurface elements designed to treat and modify the surface the canal wallsurface during movement of the device along the contour of the canal.This combined trabeculorhexis-canaloplasty procedure will not onlydisinsert and remove the TM, but also can improve and change the anatomyof the remaining canal wall for additional improvement of aqueousoutflow. In addition, a further embodiment where the surface of suchab-interno device (guide-probe and tissue disruptor) can be coated witha hemostatic coating (e.g. silver nitrate) which can reduce bleedingduring the procedure. The device is preferably introduced ab interno butaspects of the present invention may be practiced with ab externoapproach without departing from the scope of the invention. As thedevice of the present invention is moved to tear tissue, the device doesso preferably without cutting or ablating the tissue. Of course, cuttingdevices and even a cutting element with the devices of the presentinvention may be provided without departing from numerous aspects of thepresent invention. The present invention may also be practiced withoutany implantable structure (including no implantable structures coupledto the handpiece) left in the eye. Of course, aspects of the presentinvention could be practiced in conjunction with a shunt or stent-likestructure without departing from aspects of the present invention.

As used herein, the terms are often used with reference to a view of thedevice in use and may be modified as described below to provide furtherclarification of these term. The term advancing direction may bemodified with the term “which is oriented in a tangential direction withrespect to the circular shape of the eye.” The term height may bemodified with the term “which is radially oriented with respect to thecircular shape of the eye”. Similarly, the term “width” may be modifiedwith the term “which is oriented perpendicular to the advancingdirection and the height” or with the term “oriented parallel to acentral axis of the eye”. Finally, the terms upper or upper surface andlower or lower surface may be modified with the terms “which is orientedon a radially inner surface with respect to the circular shape of theeye” and “oriented on a radially outer surface with respect to thecircular shape of the eye”, respectively. The above referenced termsapply to circular, tubular and frustoconical shapes equally.

The devices and methods have been described with reference to preferredembodiments, however, various modifications may be made within the scopeof the present invention. For example, aspects of the flexible shaft maybe used with a cutting or ablating element or the device may be usedwith a rigid shaft with an articulated head without departing from thetrabeculorhexis aspects of the present invention.

1.-30. (canceled)
 31. A method of disrupting tissue in an eye, themethod comprising: inserting a distal portion of a device into ananterior chamber of the eye, the distal portion comprising an elongate,flexible shaft, a distal guide member and a tissue disruptor coupled tothe shaft proximally of the distal guide member, the tissue disruptorcomprising a first protrusion extending radially inwardly from the shaftand a second protrusion disposed radially outwardly from the shaft;positioning the distal portion adjacent a trabecular meshwork of theeye; inserting the distal guide member through the trabecular meshworkand into a portion of Schlemm's Canal; and advancing the distal guidemember along a circumferential contour of Schlemm's Canal away from theportion of Schlemm's Canal, wherein as the distal guide member advancesalong the circumferential contour of Schlemm's Canal, the firstprotrusion disrupts trabecular meshwork tissue and, at the same time,the second protrusion disrupts an outer wall of Schlemm's Canal.
 32. Themethod of claim 31, wherein the distal portion of the device is insertedinto the anterior chamber ab interno.
 33. The method of claim 31,wherein the device further comprises an introducer tube comprising acurved or bent distal portion and a lumen, and wherein the inserting thedistal portion of the device comprises inserting the curved or bentdistal portion of the introducer tube into the anterior chamber, andfurther wherein a portion of the shaft is within the lumen of the curvedor bent portion during the inserting.
 34. The method of claim 33,wherein during the inserting into the anterior chamber, the distal guidemember and the tissue disruptor remain distal of the curved or bentportion of the introducer tube.
 35. The method of claim 33, wherein theadvancing the distal guide member along a circumferential contour ofSchlemm's Canal comprises extending the shaft from the introducer tubeto advance the distal guide member along the circumferential contour ofSchlemm's Canal.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein as the shaftextends from the introducer tube, the shaft develops a spring-load. 37.The method of claim 35, wherein as the shaft extends from the introducertube, the shaft applies a radially outward force against an outer wallof Schlemm's Canal.
 38. The method of claim 35, further comprisingvarying a stiffness of the shaft by changing a length of the shaftextending from the introducer tube.
 39. The method of claim 38, wherethe stiffness of the shaft varies by at least a factor of 10 as thelength of the shaft extending from the introducer tube increases. 40.The method of claim 31, wherein the device further comprises a proximalportion that remains outside the eye.
 41. The method of claim 40,wherein the proximal portion comprises an actuator operatively coupledto the shaft, the method further comprising operating the actuator toadvance the distal guide member along the circumferential contour ofSchlemm's Canal.
 42. The method of claim 41, wherein the actuatorcomprises a slide, the method further comprising moving the slide toadvance the distal guide member along the circumferential contour ofSchlemm's Canal.
 43. The method of claim 35, further comprising moving aslide to extend the shaft from the introducer tube to advance the distalguide member along the circumferential contour of Schlemm's Canal. 44.The method of claim 43, further comprising retracting the slide toretract the distal guide member towards the introducer tube.
 45. Themethod of claim 31, wherein the shaft comprises a resiliency.
 46. Themethod of claim 45, wherein the shaft comprises nitinol.
 47. The methodof claim 45, wherein the resiliency of the shaft causes the distal guidemember to slide along an inner wall or the outer wall of Schlemm's Canalduring the advancing along the circumferential contour of Schlemm'sCanal.
 48. The method of claim 31, wherein the distal guide membercomprises a blunt, distal portion of the shaft, and further wherein theshaft comprises a wire.
 49. The method of claim 31, further comprisingdisinserting the trabecular meshwork tissue from attachment to other eyetissue with the first protrusion as the distal guide member advancesalong the circumferential contour of Schlemm's Canal.
 50. The method ofclaim 31, wherein disrupting the outer wall of Schlemm's Canal comprisesforming a continuous slit in the outer wall of Schlemm's Canal bycutting with a cutting edge.
 51. The method of claim 31, wherein thedisrupting the outer wall of Schlemm's Canal increases an effective sizeof Schlemm's Canal.
 52. The method of claim 31, further comprisingremoving the distal portion of the device from the eye without deployingor providing any implantable structure with the device.
 53. The methodof claim 31, wherein a portion of the shaft has a curved shape with aradius of curvature of 5 to 9 mm.
 54. The method of claim 31, whereinthe advancing the distal guide member along the circumferential contourof Schlemm's Canal comprises advancing the distal guide member around 30to 120 degrees of the circumferential contour of Schlemm's Canal. 55.The method of claim 31, wherein the outer wall of Schlemm's Canalcomprises sclera, and further wherein, as the distal guide memberadvances along the circumferential contour of Schlemm's Canal, thesecond protrusion of the tissue disruptor forms an elongate slit in theouter wall to thin the sclera.
 56. The method of claim 31, wherein, asthe distal guide member advances along the circumferential contour ofSchlemm's Canal, the elongate flexible shaft applies a radially outwardforce against the outer wall of Schlemm's Canal.
 57. The method of claim31, wherein disrupting the trabecular meshwork tissue with the firstprotrusion comprises removing a portion of an inner wall of Schlemm'sCanal by bluntly tearing or disinserting the trabecular meshwork tissue,without cutting.
 58. The method of claim 31, wherein disrupting theouter wall with the second protrusion comprises cutting, slitting,abrading, shaving, debriding or micro-perforating the outer wall.